Condoleezza Rice Lecture, Razorback Basketball and Softball Expected to Fill U of A Parking Lots

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Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – On Wednesday, March 5, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will be at the University of Arkansas and will speak at 7 p.m. in Barnhill Arena; at the same time the Arkansas Razorback men’s basketball team is hosting Ole Miss in Bud Walton Arena; meanwhile, the Razorback softball team will be playing against Oklahoma in Bogle Park – a game that begins at 5 p.m.

It will be a busy night – with heavy traffic and an extra demand for parking. A PDF map detailing the available parking for the three events is now on the University Parking website.

Rice is speaking as part of the student-funded Distinguished Lecture Series at the U of A.

“We know that there are many students, faculty and staff – as well as many people in the Northwest Arkansas community – who are excited about having the chance to hear Dr. Rice. We also know there are thousands who will be attending the two athletics events,” said Tyler Priest, chair of the Distinguished Lecture Series committee. “We are working with U of A parking and transit, University Police and with the athletics department – to make sure that everyone will be able get to the event they want to attend.”

The Condoleezza Rice lecture is free, open to the public and no tickets are required. Barnhill Arena will be open at 5:30 p.m. for the lecture. Free parking will be available after 5 p.m. in lot 44, the Stadium Avenue parking garage, and the Baum Stadium East parking lot. Limited parking for people with disabilities will be available in lot 59. U of A Transit and the Distinguished Lecture Series committee will provide free bus shuttle service from Baum East to Barnhill Arena only. Return shuttle service will also be available.

Parking for the two Razorback events will be in the designated Razorback Foundation donor parking lots, as shown on the same map.

University Police will be responsible for traffic flow during the evening.

“There will be much more traffic than normal for a Wednesday night,” said Priest. “But it will also be much less traffic – and much less demand for parking – than the university experiences for a typical home football game. We are confident that everything will go smoothly.”

University Police will also be responsible for security at all of the evening’s events. There will be special security measures in place at Barnhill Arena for the lecture, however. Each person entering the arena will be required to pass through a security checkpoint, and everyone who plans to attend should allow extra time for this preventive measure. Cameras and personal items will be checked. Signs, banners, posters and noise-makers will not be permitted inside the arena. Pocket knives will not be allowed, nor will large bags, backpacks, strollers or baggage.